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RAMAPHOSA TO MEET KING

02/11/2021 08:49:00 BY SIBUSISO ZWANE

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MANZINI – The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, is set to have face-to-face talks with His Majesty King Mswati III today.

The president of South Africa, who is the chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics Defence and Security, will arrive in the country through King Mswati III International Airport today at around 8:30am. This was confirmed by the Communications Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sikhumbuzo Bhembe. He said the president would be in the kingdom today as he was expected to land at King Mswati III International Airport.

Thereafter, the communications officer said at around 12:30pm, the chairman of SADC Troika would meet the King at Mandvulo Hall. Bhembe was asked if the agenda of the heads of State meeting would be about the ongoing political unrest in the country, following Ramaphosa’s decision to send a special envoy to the country late last month. However, Bhembe said the information they had was that the visiting head of State would meet the King this afternoon.

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Meanwhile, the King’s Office Director of Communications, Percy Simelane, said the matter was being handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In that regard, he referred this publication to the ministry. Worth noting is that Troika sent an envoy to the kingdom to engage with the King and other stakeholders over the ongoing unrest. In the country, the unrest had been characterised by protest actions which have been going on for a while now. During the unrest, especially the countrywide protest action which culminated in looting and vandalism of public and private properties, some of which were torched, some emaSwati were shot. Others died, while some were injured. Again, some were arrested in the process.

Last week, a report which was delivered by the Commission on Human Rights said 291 people were shot in two days (June 28 and 29, 2021). The report also said 46 civilians died. It also said 19 of those who were shot, were children and two of them were killed in the process.